Greening drive launched

A massive greening drive, as part of the 68th birthday celebration of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, was launched in Coimbatore and The Nilgiris on Monday.

About 2.12 lakh saplings each are expected to be planted.

The Nilgiris District Forest Officer, C. Badrasamy, said that the survival rate of saplings planted as part of the Chief Minister’s birthday was 80 per cent.

“Last year it improved to 90 per cent,” he said.

This year, forest personnel are planning to plant more than 30 varieties at various places across the district depending on the climatic conditions prevailing there.

It includes flowering trees such as Spethodia, a host of ornamental native conifers, bottle brush, and silver oak on private lands.

The plantation will be completed in a phased manner before December, based on the rainfall and climatic conditions.

Plantation in the upper plateau areas will be done in June and July, and in Kotagiri and Burliar in October and November, during the North East Monsoon.

Ten nurseries are getting ready in Coimbatore district to raise saplings for the drive.

Minister for Municipal Administration S.P. Velumani, who launched the drive at Boluvampatti Forest Range Office, at Iruttupallam, said that a good share of the saplings will be planted and maintained in the forest areas, education institutions, and parks.

District Collector Archana Patnaik; Conservator of Forests I. Anwardeen; and District Forest Officer C.H. Padma; were present.

Compensation for crop loss was given to 10 farmers, and Rs. 2.75 lakh was given to the mother of Dharman who was trampled to death by a wild elephant a few weeks ago.

Department personnel said that they were studying survival rate of the saplings planted in similar drives in the last few years.

Tirupur

Minister for Forests M.S.M. Anandan on Monday inaugurated the massive planting programme in the district as a continuation of the State Government's vision to plant 68 lakh saplings across the State.

District Forest Officer A. Periasamy told The Hindu that 2,19,350 saplings would be planted in Tirupur district under the project during 2016-17.

The saplings were provided by the Forest department.

District Collector S. Jayandhi; Chief Conservator of Forest V. T. Kandasamy; district panchayat chairman M. Shanmugam; among others were present.

TECA Welcomes Tamil Nadu Government’s Transparency Measures and No Power Tariff Hike Decision

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers’ Association (TECA) has welcomed the State government’s White Paper on the TNEB and...

DVAC Searches Highways Engineer’s Residence in Coimbatore in Road Works Corruption Case

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Thursday searched the residence of a Highways Department engi...

No Power Tariff Hike This Year: SIMA Thanks Tamil Nadu Government

The Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) has welcomed the Tamil Nadu government’s announcement that there will be no...

Coimbatore Corporation Conducts Intensive Mosquito Control Drive in PN Pudur Ward

Coimbatore Corporation's 41st Ward in PN Pudur witnessed comprehensive mosquito control operations including fumigation,...

Unidentified Woman's Body Found Near Madukkarai, Police Appeal for Public Help

Madukkarai police have shared identifying details of the woman, including tattoos on her hands and the slippers recovere...

Coimbatore Peelamedu Ward 27 Undertakes Dengue Prevention and Sanitation Development Activities

Coimbatore Ward 27 in singanallur constituency conducted dengue mosquito eradication, anganwadi inspection, road cleanin...